Exam 2 Flashcards
(165 cards)
1
Q
Light waves and photons carry ________, and the strength of ________ is often given as a power.
A
Energy; light
2
Q
Why are some people color blind?
A
Color is a perception.
3
Q
List the three primary light colors.
A
Red, blue, green
Note: The 3 primary art colors are cyan, magenta, and yellow.
4
Q
Color that contains every other color.
A
White
5
Q
Color representing absence of light.
A
Black
6
Q
Light/Matter Interactions: light leaves matter.
A
Emission
7
Q
Light/Matter Interactions: light enters matter.
A
Absorption
8
Q
Light/Matter Interactions: light travels through matter.
A
Transmission
9
Q
Light/Matter Interactions: light bounces off of matter.
A
Reflection
10
Q
Light/Matter Interactions: random motions as light bounces off matter; during reflection/transmission.
A
Scattering
11
Q
A mirror is an example of ________ reflection.
A
Secular
12
Q
The color we see as an object’s color is ________, and all other colors are ________.
A
Reflected; absorbed
13
Q
What color(s) does an orange shirt reflect? What color(s) does it absorb?
A
Orange; all other colors
14
Q
Properties of Light: The distance from one peak to the next (or one trough to the next) in a light pattern.
A
Wavelength
15
Q
In order to start, wavelengths require a:
A
Disturbance
16
Q
Property of medium; propagate waves.
A
Wave speed
17
Q
How often a light pattern will repeat.
A
Frequency
18
Q
Require a physical medium to propagate through. (Hint: no one in space can hear you.)
A
Mechanical waves
19
Q
Self-sustaining waves propagating through the electromagnetic field.
A
Electromagnetic waves
20
Q
When a wavelength becomes longer, the frequency is ________.
A
Lower
21
Q
Light is carried by ________.
A
Photons
22
Q
List the electromagnetic spectrum from longest to shortest wavelength.
A
Radio, microwave, infrared, visible, ultraviolet, x-ray, and gamma ray.
23
Q
Higher frequency waves have ________ energy.
A
Higher
24
Q
Positively charged particle in the nucleus.
A
Proton
25
Neutral charged particle in nucleus.
Neutron
26
Negatively charged particle surrounding nucleus.
Electron
27
Atoms are held together by ________ force.
Electromagnetic
28
Classifying atoms: depends on protons.
Element
29
Classifying atoms: depends on total number of nucleons.
Isotopes
30
Classifying atoms: excess or depletion of electrons compared to ordinary state.
Ion
31
Number of protons
Atomic number
32
Number of protons and neutrons
Atomic mass number
33
States of matter: defined shape, defined volume.
Solid
34
States of matter: undefined shape, defined volume.
Liquid
35
States of matter: undefined shape, undefined volume, compressible.
Gas
36
States of matter: ionized gas, most common state of matter in the universe. (Hint: example: stars.)
Plasma
37
A spectrum of all colors. Can be produced by reflecting or emitting light.
Continuous spectrum
38
Colored lines produced by quantized energy released from storage in an atom or molecule. Used to identify elements and compounds.
Emission lines
39
Lines of absorption in a continuous spectrum that result from the light going through a semi-opaque object.
Absorption lines
40
Each element has a different ________.
Spectrum
41
Emission and absorption lines are produced in molecules by ________ and ________.
Rotation; vibration
42
Continuous spectrum of light emitted by an object as a result of the temperature of the object.
Blackbody/Thermal radiation
43
Stefan-Boltzmann Law
Hotter objects emit more light.
44
Wien's Law
Hotter objects change colors.
45
Change in frequency of a wave caused by the relative motion of the wave source and absorber with respect to each other.
Doppler shift
46
When the wavelength of the light is longer, the light is:
Redshifted
47
When the wavelength of light is shorter, the light is:
Blueshifted
48
The Doppler shift can tell us how fast an object is:
Rotating
49
Acts as a shutter that controls the amount of light going into the optical system.
Pupil
50
Focuses the light entering the optical system, uses refraction to direct light.
Lens
51
Detects photons entering the optical system.
Retina
52
Transport photon information
Optical nerve
53
The process by which light can be bent or changed direction.
Refraction
54
A measure of how well a medium can bend.
Index of refraction
55
The point at which light rays focus and converge at a single point to form an angle.
Focal point
56
Not all sources produce parallel rays. The rays focus on this.
Focal plane
57
How are images created?
From the photons emitted or reflected from the source.
58
The length of time the shutter is open.
Exposure time
59
The amount of energy per unit time that is measured or produced.
Power
60
A detector is broken up into these multiple pieces.
Pixels
61
How much light a telescope can collect at one time.
Light-collecting area
62
The smallest angle two dots can be separated/distinguished from each other.
Angular separation
63
Actual angular separation depends on ________ and ________ _______.
Atmosphere
64
Process where light waves interact with each other.
Interference
65
Refracts light to a focal point. Limited by how much a material can refract/bend light.
Refracting telescope
66
Reflects light off of multiple mirrors to one focal point. More compact and easier to maneuver.
Reflecting telescopes
67
Reflecting telescope: two mirrors, focus at back.
Cassegrain
68
Reflecting telescope: two mirrors, focus at side.
Newtonian
69
Reflecting telescope: three mirrors, focus at side.
Nasmyth/Coude
70
Why do large mirrors need a lot of support?
They will break under their own weight.
71
What is a technique to lessen the weight of a telescope?
Segmented mirrors
72
How big (m) will the next generation of optical telescopes be?
30 meters
73
How are images created?
From a single wavelength or multiple wavelengths of light.
74
What limits the wavelengths of light received by a telescope?
Filters
75
How do we create images for invisible wavelengths? Explain this process.
False-color imaging; invisible wavelengths are translated and matched up with visible wavelengths of light.
76
The technique of analyzing light by looking at the intensity of light for each wavelength of color.
Spectroscopy
77
What does spectroscopy do?
Separate the various wavelengths, or colors, of light.
78
The amount of information that can be obtained from a spectrography depends on the:
Spectral resolution
79
When we decrease intensity for better spectral resolution, we must increase ________ to compensate.
Exposure
80
A plot of brightness versus time
Light curve
81
A dimming of the night sky due to artificial light (which lessens the sensibly of optical telescopes).
Light pollution
82
Does light follow a straight path through our atmosphere? Why?
No; it scatters off of the molecules in our atmosphere.
83
What causes the twinkling we see when we are viewing stars?
Atmosphere
84
Where could we place a telescope where we could prevent the most interference?
On top of a mountain, volcano, space.
85
Do most forms of light or electromagnetic waves penetrate the Earth's atmosphere?
No; most do not.
86
What forms of light can make it to the surface of the Earth?
Visible, radio, near IR, and near UV.
87
Telescopes: huge dishes, too large to put in space, penetrate atmosphere easily, have radio wave pollution due to communication.
Radio telescopes
88
Telescopes: designed similar to optical telescope, must be placed high enough in atmosphere and space, pollution easily blocked by non-conducting shield around it.
Infrared telescopes
89
Telescopes: designed like IR and visible telescopes, must be placed in space because light is absorbed by the atmosphere, pollution not a concerned, excess waves blocked by shielding.
Ultraviolet telescopes
90
Telescopes: too energetic to be reflected or refracted like most forms of light, can only change direction a small amount when they interact with a surface, use grazing incidence mirrors to change direction of light photons a little with each reflection.
X-ray telescopes
91
Telescopes: so energetic they cannot be reflected, must be detected without any focusing, limiting its angular resolution.
Gamma ray telescopes
92
Large pools of water/ice under ground
Neutrino Detector
93
Very small, neutral subatomic particles produced by the sun
Neutrino
94
Both ground and space based little known about them
Cosmic Ray Detector
95
Very energetic subatomic particles
Cosmic rays
96
Large interferometers used to detect gravitational waves predicted by Einstein
Gravitational Waves Detectors
97
Technique of combining information from multiple telescopes to create a single image or spectrum
Interferometry
98
Which telescope would be better used and why: an extra telescope located in Antarctica, used to examine the sun's Corona, or an x-ray telescope placed on a satellite in orbit around the earth, used to examine their sun's Corona?
The x-ray on a satellite, because there are atmospheric interferences and though being in space would be more expensive, it would make more sense.
99
Which telescope would be better used and why: and ultraviolet telescope located at the summit of Mauna Kea, Hawaii, used to study galaxies, or an optical telescope located at the summit of Mauna Kea, Hawaii, used to study galaxies?
The optical telescope, because the ultraviolet telescope will not be of any use because it must be in space.
100
What telescope would be better used and why: an infrared telescope located at the summit of Mauna Kea, Hawaii, used to observe comets, or an infrared telescope placed on a satellite in orbit around Earth, used to observe comets?
The telescope located at the summit of Mauna Kea, because it can easily block pollution, and it is cheaper to place it on earth then in space.
101
What holds the solar system together?
The sun's gravitational force
102
True or false: The sun's mass is greater than the combined mass of the rest of the solar system.
True
103
The sun is normal except for this trait.
High metallicity
104
The sun is 98% ________ and ________.
Hydrogen; helium
105
Dark spots on the surface of the sun; they are cooler than the rest of the sun.
Sun spots
106
Why is the sun yellow in color?
Blackbody radiation
107
By what process does the sun create its energy by converting mass to energy?
Nuclear fusion
108
Bombard the objects in the solar system (not comets, asteroids, etc.)
Solar winds
109
Bursts of hot plasma from the surface of the sun
Solar flare
110
Type of planets that is closer to the sun, including Mercury, Venus, Earth, and Mars.
Terrestrial planets
111
Type of planet that is farther from the sun, including Jupiter, Saturn, Uranus, and Neptune.
Jovian planets
112
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No atmosphere
Heavily cratered
Extreme temperature difference between night and day
Smallest planet
Closest to sun
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Mercury
113
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Hottest planet
Has atmosphere
Closest physical characteristics to Earth
Spins backwards
Second closest to sun
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Venus
114
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Densest planet
Oxygen/nitrogen atmosphere
Moon closest size to host planet
Innermost planet with a moon
Only habitable planet in solar system
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Earth
115
Very little atmosphere
No magnetic field
Shows history of geological activity
Two moons, probably captured asteroids
Mars
116
Not a planet
Most likely a produce of an unformed planet
Largest asteroid, Ceres, is a dwarf planet
Asteroid Belt
117
Largest planet
Smallest axis tilt
Red spot-giant storm size of Earth
4 large moons (Galilean moons)
Jupiter
118
Which one of Jupiter's moons is most likely to be a candidate for a potential colony? Also note: largest moon in solar system.
Ganymede
119
Less dense than water
Would float in an ocean
Has one moon Titan
Saturn
120
Coldest planet
Longest year
Only one visit from satellite (Voyager 2)
Neptune
121
Rotates nearly on its side
No solid surface
Closest planet with only one satellite visit (Voyager 2)
Uranus
122
Lost planet status, has not cleared its orbit, in the Kuiper belt, it's largest moon, Charon, is locked and synchronous rotation with its host planet.
Pluto
123
Similar to the astroid belt, except that it's objects are icy balls. Has a dwarf planet called Eris.
Kuiper belt
124
Leftover, cold material, distributed spherically around the sun. Likely source of comets
Oort Cloud
125
Dirty balls of ice. Tail created by radiation energy from the sun, points away from the sun.
Comets
126
Other than telescopes, what are other sources of information about planets?
Robotic missions
127
What are the four types of robotic missions?
Flybys, orbiters, landers, and sample return missions
128
Robotic missions: spacecraft passes by the object only once and then continues. Only type that can visit multiple planets. Cheapest. Only type of mission used for outer planets. Uses gravitational slingshot.
Flybys
129
Robotic missions: goes to planet and orbits it like a moon. Can gather information over a long period of time on one source. Provides most accurate measurement of the mass of orbited planet. More expensive than flybys, but information per cost is better.
Orbiters
130
Robotic missions: land on surface and explores surface of an object. Allows direct analysis of material. Costlier and more challenging. Due to harsh conditions, the robot has a shorter lifespan.
Landers
131
Robotic missions: what are the steps to getting a lander on the surface of an object?
1. Friction slows spacecraft.
2. Parachute slows spacecraft.
3. Rockets slow spacecraft to halt; "Sky crane" lowers rover to surface.
4. Tether releases, rocket heads off to crash a safe distance away.
132
Robotic missions: a sample is returned to Earth for analysis. Most difficult and most costly. Allows for more depth analysis. Other missions limited by payload size.
Sample return mission
133
What are some common characteristics between all the planets?
They all travel in the same direction around the sun, have nearly circular orbits, and are about in the same plane of space.
134
Explains major features of solar system. Being tested and adjusted as new planetary systems are discovered.
Nebular Theory
135
NASA panel; types of robotic missions: what robotic mission would best suit studying the atmosphere of the planet Neptune?
Orbiter
136
NASA panel; types of robotic missions: what robotic mission would best suit studying the composition of the Cerus dwarf planet in the asteroid belt?
Sample Return
137
NASA panel; types of robotic missions: what robotic mission would best suit studying several comets/asteroids in the Oort Cloud?
Flyby
138
NASA panel; types of robotic missions: what robotic mission would best suit studying the surface geology of Jupiter's moon, Ganymede?
Landers
139
Bigger stars burner their fuel ________ than smaller stars.
Faster
140
Resulting from the conversion of potential energy into kinetic energy (note: higher temperature at center)
Heating
141
Nebula spins as energy is converted
Spinning
142
Caused by spinning, centripetal force holds material outwards
Flattening
143
Gathering of material increasing the size of an object
Accretion
144
How did the Terrestrial planets form?
Accretion (materials gathering), metal gathering until planetesimals form, becomes hard to grow. Only largest continue to grow. (Evidence: meteorites have same composition needed for solar nebula theory.)
145
How were the Jovian planets formed?
Similar to terrestrial planets, except that they use hydrogen compounds.
146
How does the sun "clear the nebula"?
The early sun rotated rapidly and had a stronger solar wind. Solar wind would push materials toward the edge of the solar system.
147
Pieces that were never accreted into larger objects, many hit planets in heavy bombardment period, many impact craters provide evidence.
Asteroids and comets
148
What are some exceptions to the rules?
The Earth's moon is very large compared to its host planet, Mars has two moons, Venus's rotation backwards, Uranus tilts on its side, Mercury has a large core.
149
What are captured moons?
Leftover planetesimals
150
Why is Earth's moon so big?
Result of a giant impact: when Earth was molten, a Mars-sized planetesimal collided with the Earth. Resulted with a debris disk around the planet. The debris accreted into a moon.
151
What is a likely reason Uranus spins on its side?
Giant collision
152
Why does Venus spin backwards?
Giant collision or probably atmosphere
153
Mercury's core?
Giant collision
154
How did the asteroid belt form?
It was an unformed planet, possibly caused by Jupiter's gravity.
155
The age of rocks can be determined from when they ________.
Solidify
156
Uses radioactive elements and their decay rates to figure out life period of element
Radiometric dating
157
Amount of time required for half the element to decay
Half-life
158
Earth rocks have been dated to ___ billion years ago.
4
159
Moons rocks have been dated to ___ billion years ago.
4.5
160
Meteorites have been dated to ___ billion years ago.
4.55
161
Solar system is ___ billion years old.
4.5
162
New solar systems, reasonable or surprising: The solar system has four large Jovian planets and it's in our solar system and six small terrestrial planets in its outer solar system.
Surprising due to frost line
163
New solar systems, reasonable or surprising: A solar system with 11 planets, all orbiting in the same plane and direction around the host star. The 17 largest moons in the solar system orbit their planet in nearly the same plane and direction. However, many small moons have highly inclined orbits around their planets.
Reasonable
164
New solar systems, reasonable or surprising: A solar system has four Earth-sized terrestrial planets, each with a single moon, identical in size to the Earth's moon. There are no Jovian planets.
Surprising because the moons are the same size as their host and there are no Jovian planets.
165
New solar systems, reasonable or surprising: A solar system has several planets similar and composition to the Jovian planets, but similar in size to the terrestrial planets of our solar system.
Surprising and reasonable, depending on the size of the host star. If host star is dwarf, reasonable. If star is same size as Milky Way host, surprising.
